The South Whidbey School District is seeking donations of kitchen equipment for its school farm culinary program.

Students help grow the produce planted in the school gardens for the South Whidbey School Farms program. They are also immersed in a culinary program, using the food grown in the gardens to create nutritious snacks and meals.

The culinary program is in its fourth year for elementary school students. The other grades began the program last year.

The work in the garden and in the kitchen is mandatory education for grades three through six. Students in the middle school and high school have the option to take electives in gardening and agriculture, which involves culinary processes as well.

Students have recently learned how to cook veggie burgers and spring rolls, and peas and carrots have flourished over the winter season.

The culinary program instructs 50 to 200 kids every week. The program is in need of kitchen tools in good condition, and urges community members to donate their extra or unwanted items for the students to use.

Items on the wish list include pasta cranks, immersion blenders, salad spinners, food processors, bread pans, rolling pins and more.

School Farm Manager Cary Peterson said the pasta cranks are especially useful, because so many different things can be made with them. She stresses the importance of hands-on experience the culinary program gives to students.

Donations can be made to the South Whidbey School Farms program by calling (360) 593-2725 or by emailing southwhidbeyschoolfarms@gmail.com.

• More info can be found at https://whidbeyschoolgardens.wordpress.com/.